Recently we introduced Dr YiJie Neo, a Curious Minds alum with a remarkable journey, leading all the way back to Curious Minds. This time as a STEM Coach for the 2024-25 Curious Minds program!

What is your background in STEM education & career? 

I am currently working as a junior doctor in Melbourne. I completed High School in 2017, and then commenced an undergraduate pathway medical degree at Monash University.

I decided to add an intercalated Honours research year (BMedSc(Hons)) in 2022 at Monash Health’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G), where researched telehealth’s impact on pregnancy care. I then returned to complete my MD and graduated in 2023.

I worked as an Intern Doctor at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in 2024, completing terms in Emergency, General Surgery (Emergency General Surgery and Renal Transplant), Gynae-oncology, General Medicine and Psychiatry.

I am currently working as a General/Obstetrics & Gynaecology Resident at Monash Health, with 6 months in General Medicine and Neurology/Stroke, and 6 months in O&G.

What are you doing now and what does this involve?

As a junior doctor, I rotate through a variety of medical and surgical specialties, mostly in hospital settings, and gradually narrow down to my preferred specialty area of O&G. Although most people have an idea what a doctor does, it’s not always like the movies/TV shows!

I enjoy working closely with a dynamic and diverse team, including my junior and senior medical colleagues, but also nursing and other allied health professionals. My dream is to pursue a career in O&G, as I love all aspects of women’s health. From people of diverse genders/sexes being excluded from medical research, to the constant minimising and ignoring of issues like pelvic pain in society, there is so much work to be done.

It makes me furious that something as universal as pregnancy and birth sees such a disparity in outcomes across different groups in Australia and across the globe, so I am passionate about health equity and working towards a world where everyone can access safe and appropriate pregnancy care.

What is the name of your student/s in the Curious Minds program?

My student is Mia!

Describe the project your student/s have been working on.

We’re still in the process of doing background research to clarify the details of the project, but we’re decided to focus on the environmental consequences of nuclear disasters. We’re starting by researching the impacts of various case study events, understanding more of the science behind their human/animal/environmental consequences, identifying challenges and then brainstorming solution/s that we can test or prototype.

Why did they choose this project?

Through Mia’s STEM interest proforma, we identified that she was particularly interested in nuclear chemistry and creating a greener future through renewable energy. We decided that an interesting intersection of these two areas was to look at nuclear power and to try and understand some of the issues surrounding our ability to harness nuclear power in an efficient, safe and sustainable fashion.

Describe your experience with Curious Minds. Why did you want to become a coach and what is an element of the program you’ve enjoyed?

I owe so much to the mentors in my life who have guided and invested in me, and so I have tried my best to continue paying it forward by mentoring others. After my experience as a student in Curious Minds, I knew I wanted to return as a coach one day.

I loved attending Summer Camp in person in 2024 as a coach, and the “speed networking” session was such a wonderful opportunity to meet some of the students from this cycle. What a brilliant group of girls! They were by turns sharp and intelligent, visionary, observant, thoughtful and creative, and I can’t wait to see what areas of STEM they choose to explore over the course of the program.

As a young woman in STEM at the start of my career, I also really valued the opportunity to meet so many other coaches. It was a wonderfully wholesome experience and a powerful full-circle moment that felt like coming home to a warm hug of supportive, encouraging and badass/awe-inspiring female STEM professionals! It really fed my soul and I couldn’t be more grateful for the all the wonderful coaches who really walk the talk, coming together to empower each other and lift up other amazing women in STEM.

What do you think about the current state of STEM in Australia as a whole?

It’s a huge question that I don’t feel fully qualified to comment on, to be honest! I know that from my perspective and in my specific field/s, there is a lot of incredible work going on, but also a lot of strife when it comes to negotiating the logistics of it all – funding, a lack of resources and/or time.

Do you think Curious Minds has a positive impact on the future of STEM?

Absolutely, I know what a huge impact it’s had on me.

It’s so important to provide opportunities like these to young girls who are so excited about STEM, but might not have the networks or resources to learn about how to pursue their dreams. So many of us wrestle with impostor syndrome, or a feeling like we don’t belong, like we aren’t smart or talented enough to deserve a place in the world of STEM; but it’s simply not true! I can’t understate the importance of role models like coaches in banishing these misconceptions.

I also think it’s so important for girls to learn to throw out toxic perfectionism and enjoy the fun of investigating, experimenting, making and learning from mistakes through a STEM exploration.